as in monarchs
one who rules over a people with a sole, supreme, and usually hereditary authority
the aging ruler agonized over the choice of an heir
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Recent Examples of rulers
Discovering a site like this allows archaeologists to further understand the culture and society of early medieval England, when the country was fragmented into several kingdoms but rulers like Offa were beginning to unify it and Alfred the Great was fighting off Viking invaders.
—
Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 4 Feb. 2026
And third, taking Maduro off the board was a force-multiplier for the administration’s Cuba policy, which centers on increasing economic pressure on the island until its aging rulers either wither away or negotiate their own demise.
—Daniel Depetris, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2026
Last spring, a company owned by the rulers of the United Arab Emirates bought two billion dollars’ worth of USD1.
—David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 31 Jan. 2026
The demonstrations, sparked by economic distress and anger at Iran’s clerical rulers, were met with a sweeping crackdown that activists say has killed thousands.
—Nik Popli, Time, 28 Jan. 2026
Instead, the terms of the social contract between rulers and ruled needs to be made explicit.
—Obi Anyadike, semafor.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Demonstrations sparked in late December by anger over economic hardship exploded into mass protests against Iran's Islamic rulers.
—Olivia Young, CBS News, 23 Jan. 2026
While being given a tour of Lagado, the capital of Balnibari, Gulliver is taken to the Academy of the Projectors, where the rulers hope to profit from the technological wonders of pure science.
—Literary Hub, 21 Jan. 2026
In addition to Wonder, Janet Jackson also stopped collecting rulers after 10.
—Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 4 Feb. 2026
And third, taking Maduro off the board was a force-multiplier for the administration’s Cuba policy, which centers on increasing economic pressure on the island until its aging rulers either wither away or negotiate their own demise.
—Daniel Depetris, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2026
Last spring, a company owned by the rulers of the United Arab Emirates bought two billion dollars’ worth of USD1.
—David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 31 Jan. 2026
The demonstrations, sparked by economic distress and anger at Iran’s clerical rulers, were met with a sweeping crackdown that activists say has killed thousands.
—Nik Popli, Time, 28 Jan. 2026
Instead, the terms of the social contract between rulers and ruled needs to be made explicit.
—Obi Anyadike, semafor.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Demonstrations sparked in late December by anger over economic hardship exploded into mass protests against Iran's Islamic rulers.
—Olivia Young, CBS News, 23 Jan. 2026
While being given a tour of Lagado, the capital of Balnibari, Gulliver is taken to the Academy of the Projectors, where the rulers hope to profit from the technological wonders of pure science.
—Literary Hub, 21 Jan. 2026
In addition to Wonder, Janet Jackson also stopped collecting rulers after 10.
—Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rulers
Noun
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Learn about Hawaiian history at ‘Iolani Palace in Honolulu, the former royal residence of the last reigning monarchs of Hawaii.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Feb. 2026
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One of the reasons to grow this plant is its attractiveness to Gulf fritillary butterflies, whose exclusive relationship with it parallels that of monarchs with milkweed.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
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In their place Carlos Alcaraz and Sinner have established themselves as the kings of the court, and the rest of the world consistently isn’t in their sphere.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
16 Feb. 2026
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Backed by Spanish box office kings Bowfinger Intl.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Known for its perfectly fitting stone bricks, the site was built in the 15th century by the Incas and served as a sanctuary for the nation’s emperors.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
31 Dec. 2025
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For young emperors of ice cream, there’s a jump rope that has ice-cream-cone handles ($12) and a pencil sharpener shaped like an ice-cream truck ($24).—
Jessica Winter,
New Yorker,
15 Nov. 2025
Noun
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And the reason for that is that the default data and the default experience does not coincide with the ratings that the ratings agencies attribute to African sovereigns.—
Harvard Business Review,
Harvard Business Review,
13 Nov. 2025
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Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, has similarly dropped into deep curtsies when meeting other sovereigns on trips abroad.—
Janine Henni,
PEOPLE,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rulers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rulers. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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